Category: Blogs

Top News: ElBaradei Drops Out of Presidential Race

By Mara Revkin

Mohamed ElBaradei dropped out of the presidential race on December 14, citing the military’s mishandling of the transitional period, which would make it impossible to conduct a free and fair election.

Israeli General meeting with NATO military leaders and partners

By Israel Defense Forces

From Israel Defense Forces:  The IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, left for Brussels today (Tuesday) for a two-day work visit where he will participate in a conference attended by Chiefs of Staff of NATO member countries, and will conduct work meetings with his counterparts from around the world.

Canadian Naval officer accused of spying

By the Globe and Mail

From the Globe and Mail:  A Canadian Forces officer who served for a decade inside military intelligence has been charged with passing government secrets to foreign interests over the span of four and a half years – a case that threatens this country’s reputation among its closest allies.

How a self-sufficient America could go it alone

By Philip Stephens, the Financial Times

From Philip Stephens, the Financial Times:  What is true is that, as Washington’s will is increasingly contested, the US-led international system established after 1945 is cracking.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ‘unable to land on aircraft carriers’

By Andrew Hough and Thomas Harding, the Telegraph

From Andrew Hough and Thomas Harding, the Telegraph:  The Royal Navy’s multi-billion pound fighter plane programme is under threat amid claims that its new all-purpose jets cannot land on aircraft carriers, it has emerged.

Polish General: “We are not very happy that the U.S. military involvement in Europe will be smaller”

By Marcus Weisgerber and Vago Muradian, DefenseNews

From Marcus Weisgerber and Vago Muradian, DefenseNews:  Gen. Mieczyslaw Cieniuch last week made his first official visit to the U.S., where he met with a number of U.S. leaders, including Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Defense Minister: Turkey’s new competitors are Germany, France and US

By Hurriyet Daily News

From Hurriyet Daily News:  “Our rivals are no longer the neighboring towns or provinces. The new competitors for the Turkish people are today those in Germany, France and the United States,” [Turkey’s Defense Minister İsmet] Yılmaz said

Norway: NATO Losing Self-Defense Ability

By Dave Majumdar , Defense News

U.S. Likely to Press On With Missile Defense in Poland

By Marcin Sobczyk, the Wall Street Journal

From Marcin Sobczyk, the Wall Street Journal:  The U.S. will likely keep its commitment to place missile interceptors in Poland to counter a military threat from Iran regardless of any opposition from Russia and despite defense cutbacks, a U.S. senator said Thursday.